Rebound check for vehicles



Jan. 22, 1929. 1,699,684

C. 5. BURTON REBOUND CHECK FOR VEHICLES Original Filed Feb. '7, 1923 2 5 5 1 Jan. 22, 1929. 1,699,684

C. S. BURTON 1 REBOUND CHECK FOR VEHICLES Original Filed Feb. 7, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Jan. 22, 1929.

curr es stares earner oFFi-c-e.

CHARLES S. BUR'IGN, 01? OAK PARK, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS,

TO THE CLEVELAND GRAPHITE BRONZE CUIVIPANY, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, A COR- PORATION OF OHIO.

REBOUND CHECK FOB VEHICLES.

Application filed February 7, 1923, Serial No. 617,424. Renewed. December 22, 1924..

The purpose of this invention is to provide an improved construction in a rebound check for spring vehicles'of the type comprising a spring-retracted drum mounted on one of the vehicle members and connected with the other for tensioning thedrum spring against the vehicle spring in the rebound of the vehicle, and having also means for frictional resistance to the rebound. It consists of the elements and features of construction shown and described indicated in the claims.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a side elevation of a construction embodying this invention shown mounted in connection with the chassis and axle of a vehicle to be served thereby.

Figure 2 is an axial section of the main eiement of the device.

Figure 3 is a section at the line 33 on Figure 2.

Figure 4. isa section at the line i--i on Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a detail section atthe line 5-5 on Figure .2. i

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 3 showing a modified construction.

Figure 7 is a detail of a facing and hinging plate for the brake shoe shown in Figure 6.

The shock absorber shown in the drawings of a type characterized by two fcatures,- (a) a drum on which a check Strap which con nects the vehicle body and axle is wound for taking up slack yielded in the descent of the vehicle, by the reaction of a spring connected for rotating the drum, the spring being tensioned in the rebound of the vehicle by the unwinding of the check strap, the rebound being checked by the resistance due to the tension of the spring; (3)) means for frictional resistance to the rotation of the drum, which resistance is added to the spring resistance in the rebound movement of the vehicle body.

The presentinvention is characterized also by means and features of construction for producing the frictional resistance to the drum for rotating without application of lateral pressure, and, at'least in the preferred form, also without pressure directed toward the axle,-i. e. so as to press the drum against its journal-bearing or axle, all the brake pressure appiied being substantially balanced as to its tendency to thrust the drum against the axle. Other characteristic features are the specific means employed for brake pressure braking effect in. the direction of rotation of the drum in which it takes up the slack ofthe connector, and increaslng said braking action in the rotation of the drum in the opposite di-' rection,- i. e. when it is rotated by unwind ing the strap for tensioning the spring.

In the drawings, A represents a portion of the chassis of the vehicle to be served; B the axle toward and from which the chassis and vehicle body moves in the descent and rebound due to irregularities of the roadway. C, is the casing of the rebound check device which is shown mounted on the chassis. 4 is the check strap connected to said d vice and to the axle thereby connecting the axle and vehicle body. 5 is a stud axle or journal bearingwhich in service of the device on the car is fixedly mounted with respect to one of the connected elements, viz, vehicle body or chassis and axle, the mounting in the present instance being upon the chassis'as stated; the means of mounting being hereinafter more pzuticularly described. 6 is a drum. mounted for rotation upon the stud axle, 5. This drum comprises a transaxial diaphragm, 6 and cup cavities, 6 and 6, at opposite sides of the diaphragm. The cavity, 6", accommodates the rebound-check-spring, 7, which has its inner coii. engaged with a paraxial slot, 5, in the stud axle and its outer coil connected by a link, 5", with the peripheral flange, 6 of the drum. The cavity, 6 is closed by a cap plate 6", whose periphery interlocks non-rotatably with the flange, 6. as shown. In the cup cavity, 6 there are mounted segmental brake shoes, 8, 8. In the form shown in Figure 3 both brake shoes are carried by an inner facing strip, 10, of spring metal which is shaped to form an eye, for pivoting both brake shoes to the same pivot stud, 12, closely adjacent to the flange, 6 of the drum, said stud being carried on the inner side of a plate, 11, non-rotatably mounted on the stud aide. Preferably the spring carrier and facing strip, 10, normally,that is, at neutral position,holds the segment brake shoes neutrally in contact or even slightly out of contact with the inner face of the flange,

6*. For pressing the brake shoes into contact with the flange for producing the desired frictional resistance to the rotation of the drum, there is provided mounted radially on the outer side of the plate, 11, radially with respect to the stud axle, and rotatable at its said mounting, a threaded stem, 15, which extends alongside the drum and out through the periphery of the casinghereinafter described. On this threaded stem there is mounted a travelling nut, 16, having a wing, 16, projecting laterally through a slot, 11 in the plate, 11, into the cup cavity, 6, and with in said cavity carrying rigidly attached thereto and thereby rigidly attached to the nut, two stiff flat-n1etal springs, 17, 17, whose free ends bear against the inner metal faced edges of the brake shoes, 8, 8. The brake shoes each being a segment less than 180 have their said inner metal faced edges preferably converging toward their free ends and the said flat metal sprlngs, 17, at what may be regarded as medial or usual position of the nut, 16., on the threaded stem, 15, have their free ends bearing'with moderate pressure outward with respect to the axis of the drum against said inner edges of the brake shoes holding said brake shoes pressed yieldingly against the flange, 6. The outer end of the said threaded stem, 15, is squaredfor receiving a key by which it may be rotated to cause the nut to travel in or out along the stem whereby when the nut is moved outward, the free ends of the two springs are wedged together as they are forced along the converging edges of the two brake shoes and thereby the tension of the springs is increased; and the pressure by which they hold the brake shoes against the inner face of the flange, 6 ,is increased not only by the increased tension of the springs.

but also by the circumstance that this increased tension operates with the advantage of increased leverage as the springs are moved along the brake shoes away from the fulcrums of the latter and, on the other hand, when the nut is caused to travel inward along the stem the pressure against the brake shoes is diminished and the friction. of the shoes against the drum correspoi'idingly d1- minished. V p

The structure above described enclosed in acasing comprising a cup-shaped member, 21L for which the plate, 11, constitutes a cap or closure, said plate being suitably diametered for that purpose and having a pcripheral flange, 11", adapted to embrace the edge of the flange or circumferent-ial wall, 20, of the casing member, 20, and to interlock therewith by, outstruck hollow bosses, 11,in said flange, 11*, engaging bosses, 20, registeringly positioned on the flange, 20 of the casing member. The stud axle, 5, is reduced and threaded at one end forming a 65 shoulder, 5, and onto said reduced threaded end there is applied a nut, 23, which is screwed up tight against said shoulder, the

nut being of'sui'licient diameter to overlap the margin of the central aperture of the casing member, 20, for retaining the same on the stud. At the opposite end outside the squared portion, 5, provided for non-rotatably engaging the plate, 11, the stud axle, 5, slightly reduced in diameter to form a shoulder, and is threaded to receive a nut, 24, which similarly to the nut, 23, overlaps the margin of the central aperture of the cap member, 11; and thereby the casing members, and 11, are held interlocked between the two nuts, 23 and 24. V

The check strap, 4, is attached at one end positively to the drum for winding upon the outer side thereof and in assembling is wrapped once or more about the drum and extends out through a peripheral opening, 20. in the casing member, 20.

For mounting the device upon the vehicle there is provided a mounting bracket or adapter, 25, which comprises a hub, 25, having at one end a flange, 25 provided with a plurality of bosses, 25, (as shown, four) projecting from theface of the flange at a dis tance from the center of the hub and flange sufficient to admit within the inner ends of said bosses, the nut, 21), and recessed as seen at 25, to accommodate said nut. This hub axially bored and threaded for screwing into it the reduced and threaded end, 5", of the stud axle, 5; and the cup member, 20, of the casing has its bottom wall or web provided with four outwardly struck bosses 20 for engagment between the bosses, 25, for holding the casing non-rotatable with respect to the bracket. The opposite end of the bracket hub is slightly reduced and threaded as seen at 25. Preferably, for attaching this bracket so as to all'ord means of mounting the device in different situations as may be required by the construction of dilferent rehicles. there is extended from it at one side radially an angle arm, 25, having its face toward the casing offset back therefrom to rutcommodate the head of a bolt indicated at for securing the bracket and thereby the entire device to a frame bar of the body of the vehicle, It is contemplated that the bracket may be mounted in any one of at least three ways on the custon'iarv channel side bar of the chassis, to wit (1) by inserting the threaded end, 25, of the bracket through a hole which maybe bored in the vertical web of the channel bar and securing it by a nut; (2) by applying the angle of the angle arm, 25, embracing the lower angle of the channel bar and securing it through either or both of the arms of the angle by bolts projecting respectively into the vertical web and the lower horizontal flange of the channel bar, or (3) by stepping the horizontal limb of the angle arm, 25, upon the upper horizontal flange of-the channel side bar and bolting it scent for the rerson that it is most important thereto. It will be seen also that the adapter bracket may he applied to the casing, 20, in a position 90 turned either way from that at which it is shown in the drawings, whereby the adapter bracket will. serve tor securing it to a vertical member of the vehicle frame or body it such member is conveniently present.

It will be upon cmishleration that the brake shoes both pivoted. at the same point on the web of the drum and being for braking pressed more or 1e igainst the flange ot the drum will exert dilierent amounts of braking etlert upon the drum, for the reason that as the drum rotates in one direction, the shoe along whose friction face the flange moves from the free end toward the pivoted end will. be hugged by the Friction against the flange and have greater frictional effect that the other shoe along which the flange of the drum travels from the pivoted end toward the tree end; so that one shoe will be more eli'ective for friction. in tl e rotation of the drum in one direction and the other shoe will be more ellective tor friction in the rotation ot the drum in the opposite direction. But the total friction upon the drum will be the same in both directions of its rotation. In the operation ot a rebound check of this character frictional resistance to the rotation of the drum is no advantage in the descending movement of the vehicle and is desirable only in tl e rebound. It is undesirable in the dethat the spring which rotates the drum for taking up the slack of the check strap shall i be able to act quickly enough to take up the slack and in tact to prevent an y actual slack, in case of a most sudden and rapid 6 rent of the vehicle, since otherwise the vehicle will receive a shock and there will be caused an unpleasant slapping action of the strap on the drum when the action of the spring taking up the slack overtakes the downward movement of the vehicle. i /hen the means of applying to the drum the friction which desirable to supplement the action of the spring tor checking the rebound is such, as to impose friction during the descent, it is necessary to tension the spring so much the ti hter in order to insure its quickness of action :tor taking up the slack, To avoid this objectionable friction i the descent ot the vehicle the term shown in Figure (5 regarded as preferable. in this figure the two brahc shoes, 30, 81, instead oi being pivoted at the same side of the cup cavity oi? the drum in which they are contained, are pivoted to the plate, ll, at diametrically opposite points, so that in rotation of the drum in one direction its flange travels over both shoes from the free end to the pivoted end, and in the other direction travels over both shoes from the pivoted end toward the free end. The shoes are pivoted with respect to the direction of the winding from the of. the strap on the drum so that the unwindmg movement m which the spring is tensioned, the flange of the drum travels along the shoes as first mentioned,that is, from therefore with minimum friction on both shoes.

In this form, in order that the frictional action of both shoes shall be increased or diminished alike by the adjustment of the brake spring-carrying nut along the threaded stem, 15, since the leverage on either shoe is diminished by the adjustment which increases the leverage on the other shoe,.the shoe, 81, along which the spring moves toward the tul- (ruin when adjustment is made for increasing the pressure of the shoes is shaped at its inner edge on which the spring bears and slides in said adj ustnient, so as to flex the spring tor increased tension in that adjustment, the wedging slope of said edge being calculated to more than oli'set the reduction of pressure due to the reduction of leverage and substantially to equalize the pressure gain or loss of the two shoes.

l. A rebound check for spring vehicles comprising in combination with a drum mounted rota-tably on one of the two vehicle members between which the vehicle springs react, a stud axle on which the drumis rotatably mounted, said. drum having a transaxial diaphragm and cavities at opposite sides of said diaphra m, the spring for yieldingly resisting the rotation of the drum and retracting it beingmounted in one of said cavities, the brake shoe being mounted in the other cavity for trictioning against the peripheral wall of said cavity, a bearing member for the drum on the stud spaced axially from the diaphragm on the side of the spring oavity, spanning the lateral opening thereofand non-rotatably engaged with the drum flange at that side.

2. A rebound check for spring vehicles comprising in combination with a drum mounted rota-tably on one of the two vehicle members between which the vehicle springs react, a stud axle on which the drum is rotatably mounted, the drum having a cavity at one side, the brake shoe being mounted in said cavity, a transaxial member non-rotatably engaged with the stud axle, on which member the brake shoe is mounted; a spring carried by the stud axle reacting on the brake shoe for pressing it outwardly with respect to the axle for its friction bearing against the inner peripheral wall of said cavity; a threaded stem mounted rotatably radially with re- Cir spectto the stud axle and laterally with respect to the zone of the brake shoe; a nut on said stem having a projection extending laterally of said stem into said cavity of the drum in the zone of the brake shoe, the brake shoe spring being carried by said nut and means for rotating the threaded stem to shift the nut along the latter and thereby shift the spring along the brake shoe, said edge of the brake shoe being situated relatively to the threaded stem for varying the spring pressure of the shoe against the drum by such shitting,

3. A rebound check for spring vehicles comprising in combination with the two vehicle members between which the vehicle springs react, the means for varying the tension of the brake spring comprising a carrier by which said spring is held, the casing having an aperture in one of its side walls through which said carrier protrudes; a screw-threaded device mounted on the outside of the casing having thread engagement with the protruding end of said carrier, whereby the rotation of said threaded device adjusts the carrier and thereby the spring with relation to the brake member for varying the point of action of said brake spring upon the brake member.

4. A rebound check for spring vehicles comprising in combination with the two vehicle members between which the vehicle springs react, the cylindrical member having a late ally situated and laterally open cylindrical cavity, the brake member comprising a pair of shoes positioned within said cavity and pivotally supported on the side wall of the casing adjacentisaid cavity for reaction outwardly against the inner surface of the peripheral wall of said cavity, the brake spring being interposed between said two brake shoes for reacting outwardly against both of them; a carrier for said brake spring mounted in the casing wall on which the said brake shoes are pivoted, and means for adjust-ing said carrier in alignment with the oi' the cylindrical member and the pivot oi the brake shoes, whereby the distance of the points of bearing of the spring against the brake shoes from the brake shoe pivot is varied for varying the force of reaction of the spring against the brake shoes.

5. A rebound check for spring vehicles comprising a fixed hub, a rotatable brake drum, segmental brake shoes interposed between said hub and said drum, and a single compression spring member engaging each of said shoes to press the ends thereof outwardly into engagement with said drum.

6. A rebound check for spring vehicles comprising a fixed hub, a rotatable drum mounted to turn about said hub, means for connecting the drum to the vehicle axle, segmental bralte shoes pivoted between said hub and drum, a single compression spring acting against the outer ends of said shoes to keep the same pressed into engagement with said drum, and means for adjusting said spring to vary the pressure thereof on said shoes.

7. A rebound check for spring vehicles comprising a fixed hub, a brake drum mounted to rotate about said hub, a pair of brake shoes pivotally mounted between said hub and drum, said pivotal mounting being fixed non-rotatably with respect to said hub, a compression spring member interposed between the outer ends of each shoe to keep the same pressed into engagement with said drum, a car-sing surrounding said drum and hub, and means extending exteriorly of said casing for adjusting said spring to vary the pressure thereof on said shoes.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at Chicago, Illinois, this 29th day oi January, 1923.

CHARLES S. BURTON. 

